Ukip has gained more than 30 council seats in just three months in worrying
sign for the Conservative Party's local election prospects.

It has attracted more than 20 council defectors from the Conservatives since the beginning of the year - a rate of more than one a week. It has also taken councillors off the several Liberal Democrats and some independent parties.

On top of that, the party has made more net gains than Labour in council by-elections, according to the Political Betting website. Last night, it won a seat on North East Lincolnshire Council, adding to recent gains in Surrey, Cheshire and Greater London.

One of the party's biggest coups has been winning round Roger Arthur, a senior Tory district councillor in Horsham - the constituency of Cabinet minister Francis Maude.

The growing success for Ukip on councils is an omninous sign for the Tories, who are launching their local election campaign this weekend.

Launching a new poster, Grant Shapps, the party chairman, said: “From tomorrow, 24 million hardworking people will pay less tax thanks to the government’s reforms. People will see £600 back in their pay packets compared to 2010."

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Labour and the Liberal Democrats are also kicking off their local election efforts on Monday, as people start to get their polling cards through the post.

However, Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has been attracting crowds of hundreds of people on his "Common Sense" tour of market towns across Britain.

Cllr Peter Reeve, Ukip local government spokesman said: "There is no longer anywhere in the country where a Ukip vote fails to make a difference. We are winning councillors through our ideas and winning seats through our hard work."